On January 23, 2025, the Duluth City Council held an agenda session to discuss resolutions and items for the upcoming council meeting on Monday, January 27. The session covered finance, purchasing, personnel, planning, public works, and recreational items, with councilors raising questions on process, contracts, and community impact.
And then final question from Councillor Der Walker. Thank you, Chair Mayo. I'm wondering if perhaps there could be just a brief volunteer task force to consult with these other communities that have done this. And you've stated that all of their budgets have been different because their sizes differ, but perhaps do a consultation with Vermont, Athens, Ohio, the communities in Colorado that have done this, and do a data gathering of what they've saved and what their expenses are. It seems like that would make the argument really convincing to administration and to the skeptics. I think that would be a good idea. Okay. Thank you. All right. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Olsen and the Duluth Energy Commission for your presentation, Ms. Granley, for your work in the sustainability office, and we will proceed on to our council agenda session. Thanks. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Mayo. We will begin with Councillor Forsman Finance. Under Finance, we'll start with resolution 35 confirming assessment role for sidewalk repairs at three city locations. I assume oh yeah, yeah, in 2024. Thought it was typo for a second. Uh resolution 44, approving a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Duluth and the confidential unit of the City of Duluth for years 2025-2027. Resolution 45, approving a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Duluth and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Minnesota Council 5, Local 66 for basic unit employees for the years 2025 to 2027. Resolution 58 confirming assessment role for sanitary sewer extension for Westwood Lane. Resolution 60 confirming assessment role for stormwater sewer extension for Woodlawn Street. Resolution 64 authorizing the city to enter into an updated agreement with the Minnesota Department of Revenue to administer the City of Duluth's general sales and use tax. Resolution 73 authorizing an agreement with the Depot Foundation, the amount of 150,000. Resolution 75, amending joint powers agreement C20604 with Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center Authority for the operation of Minnesota Slip Pedestrian Draw Bridge during year 2025 for an annual amount not to exceed $50,800. Resolution 76 authorizing an agreement with uh Spirit Mountain Recreation Area Authority for 2025 operating expenses and the amount of 400,000 dollars. Resolution 78 authorizing an agreement with Great Lakes Aquarium in the amount of $310,000 and resolution 87 authorizing a contract with Heacks, Hartman, Coshmerl, Cosgriff, Johnson, Lane, and Feinstra, PA for legal professional services and the amount not to exceed $98,000 for the term of two years. Thank you, Councillor Forsman. Are there any questions for items two through twelve? Counselor Durwachter. Thank you, President Monica. Um I'd just like to clarify these are simply contracts for budget items that we previously approved. Is that correct? Um a couple meetings ago. Um I not correct on that. President Tomic, Counselor Durwachter, could you clarify? I'm not sure what you're referring to. Are these contracts that we are approving the logistics on for um that the was it the sales tax? Um, are you you're referring to the tourism tax related ones? Yeah, thank you. As part of the yes, as part of the budget. Um as part of the budget presentation, we presented the tourism tax budget that laid out all the collections and all of the separate allocations. These are the yes, these are the individual contracts. So with the depot. The arrangement for the provision of the 150,000. You already approved the tourism tax budget that contained the 150. This is now the contract with the depot, as with these other ones. Yes. Okay, thank you.